We invite you to experience the vast rainforest of the Osa Peninsula. Home to half of all species of flora and fauna in Costa Rica, it contains a mind-blowing 2.5% of the planet's biodiversity. We’ll encounter a stunning array of wildlife, including exotic birds, reptiles, and four species of monkeys.
Described by National Geographic as “the most biologically intense place on earth,” we discovered the perfect location to base ourselves to maximize photographic opportunities.
We’ll stay at the new Botanika Osa Peninsula, a Curio by Hilton resort in Puerto Jimenez. Having a comfortable air-conditioned base camp with all the amenities of a 4-star hotel makes it easy to settle in for the week, get great shots during the day, and relax when we return, with fantastic cuisine waiting for us each evening.
Epic image opportunities every day
Our daily excursions provide the application of multiple styles and techniques of wildlife photography with different photo opportunities:
- Diverse wildlife is steps from your room on the hotel grounds
- A tour into the Southern end of the Osa Peninsula to encounter monkeys, macaws, and other species of birds
- A drive deeper into the Osa to photograph poison dart frogs, reptiles, and snake species, including eyelash vipers.
- A trip to a sloth farm. Usually found high up in trees out of reach of the longest telephoto lenses, we’ll be photographing them much closer
- A boat excursion on the Sierpe River that takes us along the banks of mangroves to photograph crocs, iguanas, and more monkeys
- A visit to a chocolate finca (farm) to grind our chocolate beans, photograph new cultural perspectives, and more wildlife living on the farm
- An open day to work one-on-one with our lead photographers, Richard Camp and Brian Leary
This is a 9-day, 8-night tour originating in San Jose (SJO), Costa Rica. The first night hotel in San Jose, the internal country flights roundtrip to Puerto Jimenez, meals, local guides, and activities are included as specified in the itinerary found below. In other words, get yourself to San Jose, and we'll handle the rest.
We work with the best guides in the area, known for finding the best spots to capture macaws, monkeys, tree frogs, snakes, crocodiles, sloths, and other tough-to-find wildlife. Our lead photographers, Richard Camp and Brian Leary, will teach instructional classes.
Do you have a non-photographer spouse, partner, or guest?
We can accommodate extra guests for $3500, double occupancy. The non-photographer guest will not participate in the photography tours but can book hotel tours and activities. We'll provide you with ideas.
We’re staying next to the world-famous Crocodile Bay Marina, with the best deep fishing in Costa Rica. Guests may book fishing tours independently on a free day at special rates.
A word about the weather.
We're in the Costa Rican rainforest. Don't be alarmed if you see rain forecasted every day of our tour. Not to worry, rains typically occur mid to late afternoon after our main shooting opportunities. We may find ourselves shooting in a light rain which depending on what we are shooting can add drama to our shots.
THE COSTA RICA TRIP FILLS FASTER THAN OTHER TRIPS.
PLEASE RESERVE YOUR SPOT EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT.
ITINERARY
Day One
Arrivals in San Jose (SJO), Costa Rica
Our local representative will meet you and transfer you to the nearby Hilton Garden Inn, La Sabada. We’ll have a chance to meet each other and review camera equipment and settings and our plans for the week—dinner at your leisure.
Day Two
Flight to the Osa
After breakfast at the hotel, we will catch an early morning flight to the Botanika Resort in Puerto Jiminez (PDM). Keep your camera out for this flight. We’ll traverse the mountains and rainforest as we wing down to the Osa peninsula. After we settle in and have lunch, we’ll have a short wildlife photography presentation and hit the hotel grounds to shoot plants and wildlife, which is only a short walk from your rooms. We're just getting started with an amazing variety to shoot.
Day Three
Full Day Road to Matapalo
After breakfast, we head out on the road to Matapalo Beach for our first full day of photography. Our guides will lead us to prime spots for shooting various wildlife. We never know what we’ll encounter, but we’ll have the opportunity to shoot a mix of scarlet macaws, herons, monkeys, and other interesting species.
Day Four
Macro Photography, Frogs, Lizards, & Snakes
In contrast to the previous day, we’ll shoot iconic images in a controlled environment. We travel to the low mountains overlooking Corcovado National Park to practice our macro-photography skills on various red-eyed tree frogs, poison dart frogs, snakes, and lizards. Our guides arrange flower “sets’ for our subjects to rest on, setting the stage for some amazing shots. We’ll also hone our lighting skills with LED and flash setups. In the afternoon, we’ll download images, discuss workflows, and practice our color grading in Lightroom or Capture One. More photography on the grounds is also an option.
Day Five
Sloth Forest
In the morning, we will visit a Sloth forest. Owned by the grandparents of one of our guides, we’ll have the opportunity to photograph multiple species of sloths as we walk through a forested area. An additional photography opportunity will be available in the afternoon.
Day Six
Free Day
We’ve found that a free day allows us to change the schedule if we encounter weather that disrupts our scheduled tours. You can use this day to work one-on-one with Richard or Brian, process images, take more photos of wildlife on the grounds, get a massage, relax by the pool, or book other activities that Botanika offers. The hotel is known for its world-class deep sea and inshore fishing. Let us know if you are interested, and we can quote rates.
Day Seven
Sierpe River Tour
We leave early to embark on a tour along the banks of mangrove trees on the Sierpe River. The river is home to all four species of monkeys, crocodiles, numerous bird species, and iguanas.
Day Eight
The Chocolate Farm
Today, we wind up our time in the OSA with a visit to a nearby chocolate farm. Here, we learn how to make chocolate and grind some chocolate beans. There will be more opportunities to shoot wildlife on the farm and the process of chocolate making. In the afternoon, we will review our best photos and export photos for your galleries and/or social media posts for peers, friends, and family.
Day Nine
Back to San Jose
Farewell to Botanika and the Osa. Our short flight back to SJO will land in time for international flights scheduled after 1 pm. For anyone wanting to extend their trip, we recommend other areas of interest in Costa Rica for more photography or travel experience.
FAQ
What level of photographer?
This tour doesn't have long hikes. Most of our tour locations are close to where we park our vehicles. You need the ability to get in and out of a tour van and walk short distances.
What about bathroom stops?
Bathrooms are readily available during our excursions.
Are rooms air conditioned?
The Botanika Resort is a 5 star property with excellent air conditioning.
What about food?
We love our food and the Botinika resort has excellent choices. Think fresh fruits, delicious smoothies, fresh-caught seafood, and the best of Costa Rican and Western cuisine.
Are we hiking in the rainforest?
No. We'll be on local roads close to the wildlife we want to encounter.
What about bugs?
You'll be surprised by the lack of pesky insects. We usually don't use bug spray, however feel free to apply repellent if you desire.
What photography skills do I need?
A basic knowledge of your camera is all you need. We teach all levels of photography, from beginners to pros.